Mera Peak

Latitude: 284602
Longitude: 842636

Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in Nepal which is climbable by people without mountaineering experience. It is situated on the edge of the famous Khumbu region which is dominated by Mount Everest. Although very high, Mera is a straightforward climb.

Stuart will climb Mera Peak as part of his training. He leaves the UK on 20 March and will spend 2 weeks on Mera Peak preparing for his Everest expedition next year.

A crucial test for Stuart while he is on Mera Peak will be how his medication is affected by the altitude, combined with how Stuart copes with altitude sickness.

Why go to Mera Peak?
I will be flying into Lukla from Kathmandu and then trek to Mera Peak. The trek will take approx one week with acclimatization periods. I will be climbing Mera Peak as preparation for Everest to test how my medication and my illness reacts at extreme altitude in extreme conditions. Mera is a lot safer place to test this than Everest.

What experience will you have?
This trip is not about testing my fitness but about gaining important information about my medication and how it reacts with me and my mind and body at extreme altitudes and extreme conditions. I will be camping at 6000m+ for nearly 2 weeks and I will be monitoring my own stress levels, anxiety, paranoia and fears and measuring how my schizophrenia and emotions will cope.

I will also be using this trip to monitor altitude sickness. AMS. When I was last at altitude in Tibet I felt fine. Once I took my medication symptoms of AMS came on within ten minutes. I need to sort out what the lowest dose of medication is that I can happily survive on which will enable me to have the best balance of mind and physical strength. Medication does sedate and can sedate heavily. Sometimes I have to increase my medication when symptoms of schizophrenia and paranoia become active. The balance has to be right for me to succeed on Everest. If my schizophrenia is active it could put the whole climb in jeopardy. Hopefully Mera will help me have more understanding of my fears and concerns.

How do you feel?
I feel quite excited about being in Nepal again and relish the idea of trekking and being at extreme altitude. Nepal always brings out the explorer side of me, the boy dream of wanting to be in far away lands. It will be good to see my lead Sherpa Nuru again.

I do have some concerns about being alone in Nepal, because of the political unrest and coping with my illness by myself. Jane, my partner, has accompanied me to Nepal on the last 2 occasions. Having someone close by who can reassure me often helps so much with my illness. I am concerned about being alone and without someone like Jane who can support me and let me know all will be okay.

But I will have the next best thing. A satellite phone!

To keep up-to-date with Stuart's Mera Peak trek join our Newsletter by clicking here.